Processing device for motion picture films



Jan. 31, 1967 l. B. CURRENT 3,301,159

PROCESSING DEVICE FOR MOTION PICTURE FILMS Filed May 18, 1964 INVENTORIRA B. CURREN T ATTORNEY United States Patent This invention relates tomotion picture processing machines, and more particularly relates tomachines for treating motion picture film or other long strips withliquids by impinging such liquids in the form of sprays or jets onto thefilm or strip.

It is well known in processing motion picture films to employ jetimpingement or spray applications of developing soltuions on the film.Such jet or spray applications result in a faster rate of filmdevelopment with greater uniformity than processes wherein the film ispassed through the developing or processing solutions. However,heretofore known motion picture processing machines employing such jetor spray applications have several shortcomings in that they require aconsiderable amount of piping and/ or a considerable number of pumpsand, consequently are expensive, difi'icult to fabricate andmanufacture, have a tendency to leak and generally require considerablemaintenance.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a device forapplying liquids in the form of jets or sprays to long strips, such asmotion picture films, without the necessity of plumbing, piping orpumps.

Another object is the provision of such a device which possesses veryfew moving parts and, thus, is easy to manufacture, install andmaintain.

Another object is the provision of a device for applying liquids in jetsor sprays to motion picture film in a continuous manner without wastingsubstantial amounts of such liquids.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent fromthe following detailed description taken in conjunction with theappended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the device of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of one type of impeller which is employedin the device of this invention;

FIG. 4 and FIG. 4 are elevational views of two other types of impellerfor use in the device of this invention; and

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the device of this invention furtherillustrating such elements as driving means for the impeller and thefilm moving sprockets.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a cylindrical tank 1 havingan open enlarged upper end 2 and a solution sump 3 at its lower end. Theupper end 2 is formed with a circular film channel 4 in its interiorsurface. Sprockets 5 and 6 are rotatably mounted adjacent the upper end2 which is also formed with entry and exit slots 7 and 8, respectively.The srockets 5, 6 are respectively driveably connected to intermeshinggears 9 and 10 which are diven by a shaft 11 connected to a suitablesource of rotational power, as best shown in FIG. 5. A motion picturefilm 12 is threaded around sprocket 5 through entry slot 7, through filmchannel 4, around the interior wall of upper end 2, out of exit slot 8,around sprocket 6 and thence to other processing equipment.

An impeller 13 is rotatably mounted within the tank 1 and tapersdownwardly into the sump 3. The impeller 13 is formed with guide meansspirally extending from the lower end of said impeller upwardly andoutwardly towards the film channel 4. The impeller 13 is further formedat its upper end with a perforated peripheral rim 14 extendingdownwardly between film channel 4 and the 3,361,159 Patented Jan. 31,1967 above-mentioned guide means extending from the lower end of saidimpeller. The rim 14 is perforated with jet holes or guides 15. Theimpeller 13 furthermore is provided with a drive shaft 16 for rotatingsaid impeller.

The tapering surface 17 of the impeller is so shaped that rotary motionof the impeller causes solution in which the lower end of the impelleris immersed to rise by centrifugal action to the upper end of theimpeller where it is forced by centrifugal force through the holes orguides in rim 14. FIG. 3 illustrates one design of guide means for thetapering surface 17 as comprising spiral ridges or vanes 18 extendingfrom the lower end of said surface to the upper end thereof. FIG. 4illustrates another design of guide means for the tapering surface 17 ascomprising spiral grooves 19 extending from the lower end of saidsurface to the upper end of impeller 13, while FIG. 4' shows anotherdesign comprising spiral tubes 20 disposed in or on the tapering surface17 in the same place as spiral grooves 19 of FIG. 4 or spiral ridges 18of FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a bracket 20 fixed to tank 1.The sprocket gear drive shaft 11 is journaled in said bracket with gears9 and 10 disposed above said bracket and sprockets 5 and 6 disposedabove their respective gears. Cover 21 is hinged at 22 to said bracket.

' An impeller drive motor 23 is mounted on said cover and to drive shaft11 and gears 9 and 10.

In operation, the film 12 being processed is transported by means ofsprocket 5 to form a loop within film channel 4 and is then carried tothe next processing step by means of sprocket 6. Interconnection ofsprockets 5 and 6 by means of interrneshing gears 9 and 10 maintains theloop of film 12 in the proper size to fit the film channel 4. Theimpeller 13 is rotated, for example, by motor 23 and imparts rotarymotion to portions of the solution within sump 3 adjacent the surface ofthe impeller immersed therein. The spiral guide means on the taperingsurface 17, e.g., ridges or vanes 18 or grooves 19 or tubes, guide suchportions of the solution upwardly to the rim 14. The surface 17 guidesthe solution traveling therealong outwardly against the inner surface ofrim 14 whereby centrifugal force causes said solution to pass throughjet holes 15 and strike the surface of the film 12 in film channel 4 ata great velocity. After the solution has struck the film 12, it drainsoff of said film back into the sump 3 for recirculation upwardly andoutwardly along the surface 17 of impeller 13 to be again impingedagainst film 12.

The solution in sump 3 can be a single charge or it can be replenishedby a suitable metering device to maintain the solution therein at aproper level. Various means of temperature control of the solution, ifnecessary or desirable, can be employed in accordance with well-knownprocedures. The impeller device as described above can be employed at asingle step of the overall processing of the film and remaining stepscan employ conventional or previously known procedures. Alternatively,any number of impeller devices as described above can be used for morethan one or all of the steps of the entire processing operation.Similarly, any suitable mechanical means for coupling various sprocketsat the various processing steps or of synchronizing other drivingmechanisms can be employed in accordance with conventional practices.

As other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilledin the art without departing from the ing downwardly between saidchannel and said guide means.

I 2. Device for impinging treating solutions on motion picture filmcomprising a channel for guiding said strip of film in a circular path,a solution sump positioned below said channel, an impeller rotatablymounted within the circular path of said channel and tapering downwardlyinto said sump, said impeller being formed with guide means spirallyextending from its lower end upwardly and outwardly towards said channeland with a perforated peripheral rim extending downwardly between saidchannel and said guide means, and means for rotating said circular pathof said channel and tapering downwardly 30 into said sump, said impellerbeing formed with guide means spirally extending from its lower endupwardly and 4 v outwardly towards said channel and with a perforatedperipheral rim extending downwardly between said channel and said guidemeans, means for rotating said impeller and means for moving said filmalong said circular path defined by said channel.

4. Device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means for moving said filmcomprises a pair of interconnected sprockets.

5. Device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said guide means comprises aspiral vane formed on the external surface of said impeller.

6. Device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said guide means comprises aspiral groove formed in the external surface of said impeller.

7. Device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said guide means comprises aspiral tube along the external surface of said impeller.

8. Device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said channel, said impeller andsaid sump are enclosed within a tank.

1/1936 Germany. 6/1925 Great Britain.

JOHN M. HORAN, Primary Examiner.

NORTON ANSI-IER, Examiner.

C. B. PRICE, Assistant Examiner.

Disclaimer 3,30l,l59.-Ira B. Current, Binghamton, NY. PROCESSING DEVICEFOR MOTION PICTURE FILMS. Patent dated Jan 31, 1967. Disclaimer filedSept. 30, 1982, by the assignee, Eastman Kodak Co.

Hereby enters this disclaimer-to all claims of said patent.

[Official Gazette October 11, 1983.]

1. DEVICE FOR IMPINGING SOLUTIONS ON A LONG STRIP COMPRISING A CHANNELFOR GUIDING SAID STRIP IN A CIRCULAR PATH, A SOLUTION SUMP POSITIONEDBELOW SAID CHANNEL, AND AN IMPELLER ROTATABLY MOUNTED WITHIN THECIRCULAR PATH OF SAID CHANNEL AND TAPERING DOWNWARDLY INTO SAID SUMP,SAID IMPELLER BEING FORMED WITH GUIDE MEANS SPIRALLY EXTENDING FROM ITSLOWER END UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY TOWARDS